Since 2001, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts’ (PACD) Engineering Assistance Program has provided statewide engineering and soils technical assistance to entities developing or implementing a watershed assessment, watershed restoration plan, or watershed protection plan.

The PACD staff providing this assistance are regionally based, but cover all river basins in Pennsylvania. Staff are professional engineers and conservation technicians who can identify problems, scope solutions, identify engineering needs, estimate costs and realistic time frames, and identify assistance needed to implement solutions. They are also able to assist future Growing Greener applicants in the development of sound applications. The PACD follows professional engineering principles and ensures that projects are completed utilizing PA Technical Guide Standards.

Through grant funding provided by the Pennsylvania Growing Greener Program and the USDA NRCS, the Pennsylvania Association of Conservation Districts has completed 753 individual environmental improvement projects for hundreds of Pennsylvania’s local organizations and individuals. It is estimated that these projects involved 32.5 million dollars worth of improvements during the past eight and one half years.

To view the most recent report, click on the link below:
2010-2012 Growing Greener Grant Final Report

To view a brochure about the engineering program, click the link below:

The PACD Engineering Assistance Program

Types of Technical Assistance

Types of technical assistance provided by the PACD include:

• Inventory and evaluation of problem areas.
• Identification of possible solutions and feasibility of solutions.
• Preliminary cost estimates based on selected solutions.
• Soil investigations.
• Surveys and project design.
• Design consultation, review, and approval.
• Engineering advice to private consultants.
• Quality assurance oversight (assistance and training to those doing assurance) and assistance to evaluate special conditions encountered during construction.
• Training to conservation district staff, RC&D staff, consultants, and watershed organizations in project scoping, development of solutions, and identification of data needs.
• Training to conservation districts, RC&D staff, consultants, and watershed organizations in the development of requests for proposals from private engineering or consulting firms.

Process to Receive Engineering Assistance

The following entities are eligible to sponsor an application for engineering assistance:

• Watershed Organization (incorporated or pending)
• County Conservation District
• Non-Profit Organization 501(c)(3)
• Counties, municipalities, or their subdivisions
• Educational Institutions

The process to receive engineering technical assistance is as follows:

1. Each eligible entity seeking engineering assistance must complete an Application for an eligible project.
2. If the project is for the implementation of a CNMP, then the CNMP Supplement Form must also be completed.
3. The application must be submitted to PACD Engineering Assistance Staff at the appropriate NRCS Technical Center.
4. PACD staff will review the application, estimate the time required and present the information to the Workload Advisory Team, which determines workload priorities.
5. The applicant and other interested parties will be informed of priority ranking.
6. Engineering assistance will be provided according to priority ranking.

Questions? Contact the PACD Engineering Assistance Staff: